Prayer Works! Update On My Breathing

First, I want to express how grateful I am to all the friends and relatives who prayed for me.  It is very rare for me to be that discouraged from symptoms related to my illness.  Beside here and those who talked to me on the phone, I also asked for prayer at an online homeschool forum for moms and at co-op last Monday.

Beginning Tuesday, I have seen some improvement each day.  My breathing isn't normal yet, but it is livable.  I can talk well instead of needing to just say a few words before I take a breath.  I yawn and take deep breaths much less often, and my lip is almost completely healed.  I am praising God for the improvements and lessons learned through the experience.  :-)

I saw my autoimmune disease doctor yesterday.  The good news is that it seems unlikely this is a problem with my lungs or heart, since it isn't making me tired when I get up and go about my usual daily routine.  The bad news is that it's not a normal reaction to anxiety.  Confirming my research, breathing problems related to an anxiety attack usually resolve themselves quickly once the person is calm.  No matter how calm I was, it didn't seem to make any difference.  The anti-anxiety pills I took a couple times made me very calm but didn't improve my breathing either.

I will be getting my 6-month blood work done soon, and they have added the thyroid.  Thyroid abnormalities can cause anxiety problems.  I am also moving up a breathing test I already had scheduled to early rather than late June.  For now, I won't be taking anything for anxiety.  We will see how the blood tests turn out and see if my breathing goes completely back to normal.  If not, I may see a lung specialist.  In the meantime, I am working on handling stress better, focusing on the present instead of next year, month, week, or even next hour!  I am a planner, so it is foreign for me not to be thinking ahead all the time.

One thing that surprised me through this ordeal is how common anxiety attacks are!  I have been surprised at how many people have told me they understand how scary it is, because they've had anxiety attacks as well.  Thank you again for all the prayers!  For now, I am releasing everyone from praying for me on this, since there are much bigger things out there to focus on.  But if you think of me, pray that my breathing will return to normal and for me to handle stress better.  Blessings!  =)